Combined steam and air feeder for fire-boxes.



C.F.GREG0RY. COMBINED STEAM AND AIR FEEDER FOR FIRE BOXES. APPLICATION FILED SEPT- 3} I9I4 Patented Apr. 13, 1915.

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THE NORRIS PETERS C0,, FHOYCLITHOH WASHINGTON, D. C.

C. F. GREGORY.

COMBINED STEAM AND AIR FEEDER FOR FIRE BOXES.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 3, I914.

Patented Apr. 13, 1915 2 sums-sum 2.

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CHARLES FREDRIO GREGORY, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR TO THE GREGORY SUPPLY AND MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF MISSOURI.

COMBINED STEAIE AND AIR FEEDER FOR FIRE-BOXES.

mea re.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr, 13, 1915..

Application filed. September 3, 1914. Serial N 0. 859,985.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, CHARLES F. GREGORY, a citizen of the United States, residing at St. Louis, in the State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Combined Steam and Air Feeders for Fire-Boxes, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to an improvement in combined steam and air feeder for fire boxes.

The invention is designed primarily f0 application to locomotive fire boxes, and embodies in its general arrangement, suitable means for injecting air and steam through the wall of the fire box, conveniently upwardly into the zone of combustion above the fuel bed.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, but it is to be understood that slight changes and modifications can be made without departing from the nature and principle thereof.

In the drawing, Figure 1 is a side elevation of the device as applied to a locomotive fire box, Fig. 2 is a rear elevation, Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail section through the wall of the fire box, Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section through the injector casting, and Fig. 5 is a partial cross section through the same.

It has long been recognized that if steam and air are commingled and injected into the fire box of engines or locomotives, an improvement in the combustion is obtained, which improvement consists largely in that of preventing the accumulation of smoke by the more nearly complete combustion of gases arising from the bed of fuel contained in the fire box. The present invention is designed as an improved apparatus or device, so arranged and proportioned that it can be readily applied to existing structures at a very small outlay, and which will be so positioned with reference to the fuel bed of the fire box that the projected streams or sprays of commingled superheated steam and air will be brought into intimate contact with the rising gases and provide the necessary oxygen for the gases, so that they will be consumed and thus prevent the formation of smoke, and also to cause a material saving in fuel. I

The construction illustrated in the accompanying drawing represents largely a conventional type of locomotlve fire box A, having a grate B, and the rear wall C. Through this rear wall are placed a number of hollow stay bolts D forming a communication with the interior of the fire box. These stay bolts are arranged conveniently obliquely, for the purposes presently to be described. A represents the cab, while A represents the boiler. The boiler is tapped at its crown or any other point with a steam supply pipe or blow pipe A from which branches a steam pipe E having a valve 6 located within the cab. The pipe E extends rearwardly and terminates in a cross branch pipe F secured to the inclined wall of the firebox by brackets f. This branch pipe is in sections and has coupled therewith between the sections, mixer castings G, there being conveniently four of these castings arranged in the pipe F. The castings G, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, are represented conveniently as single piece castings having a hollow center with threaded nipple extensions g. Projecting from the center of the casting is a jet nipple g, and surrounding the casting is a perforated jacket G. The jacket G is provided with an internally threaded nipple G in direct line with the nipple g. The acket is spaced from the hollow body part of the casting a-distance to form an air space therebetween, and the series of perforations g are designed to permit the entrance of air. The nipple gprojects outward and enters centrally the threaded nipple G of the jacket, as clearly shown in Fig. 4!. Into the threaded nipple G is adjustably secured the commingling nozzle H having a tapered outer end designed to fit within the outer end of one of the hollow stay bolts, as shown in Fig. 3. By forming the comminglingnozzle with a squared portion, as shown, the nozzle can be adjusted outwardly, so as to form or secure a close joint with the ends of the stay bolts, and thus prevent the escape of moisture or gases therethrough. In-practice, it has been found convenient to have a drain pipe J leadifrom the pipe F into the ash pan, and provide the same with a suitable valve K, so that'the water of condensation may be drained from the system, if found necessary. While a convenient form of casting, or what may be properly termed mixer, is shown and described, it is to be understood that modifications thereof can be made Without departing from' the invention. 'The form, however, shown has been found eminently satisfactory in service, and one which can be readilyapplied at a minimum cost. "By providing the jacket on the mixer with a series of perforations, large particles are prevented'from being drawn into the device, and the parts are otherwise protected, While permitting a free ingress of air.

In operation, livesteam is passed into the pipe E traversing the pipe F and issuing from the nozzle H, under high pressure and force. The steam issuing from the jet .9

. entrains the air. from the jacket of the mixer,

causing the combined air and steam, the former being heated by the steam, to issue from the nozzle through the hollow stay bolts intothe firebox. Bfy arranging the mixer nozzle at an oblique angle, corresponding with that of the stay bolts, the injected fluids penetrate the zone of highest combustion within the fire box and there 'commingle with the gases arising'from the fuel bed, supplying thereby the necessary oxygen to complete the combustion of the gases, and prevent the valuable carbon products frompassing into the up-take or smoke stack in the form of whatis commonly called, smoke.

While the inventionis shown as applied to a locomotive fire box, it is of course to be understood as applicable also to fire boxes of stationary boilers.

Any number of mixers can be employed, as the number willvary with the size "or character of the fire box.

The invention is not limited to the oblique arrangement of the stay bolts, but by. the employment of the hollow stay bolts the strength of the fire box walls is not impaired.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

j 1. In an apparatus for the purpose set forth, a mixer comprising a single piece casting having a main tubular portion affording a central longitudinal steam passage, the ends of said tubular portion being constructed for connection with a steam pipe, a hollow enlargement intermediate the ends of the main tubular portion providing hollow enlargement being provided with air inlet openings communicating with the said interior chamber.

2. In an apparatus for the purpose set forth, a mixer comprising a single piece casting having a central longitudinal bore providing a steam passage, and an interiorly chambered portion extending completely around the said steam passage and having a laterally extending nipple, said casting also having a steam nipple extending laterally from the steam passage into the chamber surrounding the same and in line with the first mentioned nipple, the outer wall of the said interiorly chambered portion being perforated opposite said nipple to provide a direct communication between the interior chamber and the atmosphere.

3. In an apparatus for the purpose set forth, a mixer comprising a single piece casting having a central longitudinal bore providing a steam passage, and an interiorly chambered portion extending completely around the steam passage and provided with a laterally extending nipple, the casting having a. steam nipple extending laterally from the steam passage into the chamber surrounding the same and in line with the first mentioned nipple, said steam nipple terminating at a point at substantially the inner end of the other nipple, the outer wall of the said interiorly chambered portion being perforated opposite the said nipple to provide a direct communication between the interior chamber and the atmosphere.

4. In an apparatus for the purpose set forth, a mixer comprising a main tubular portion affording a central longitudinal steam passage and having, a laterally extending steam nipple, a surrounding perforated jacket formed integral with said tubular portion and provided with a threaded nipple, extending laterally in line with thefirst mentioned steam'nipple, and a nozzle in adjustable threaded engagement with said threaded nipple, said nozzle member being provided with a tapered outer end adapted to fit against the wall of an opening in the fire box.

5. In an apparatusfor the purpose set forth, the combination of a plurality of independentmixers, each mixer comprising a main tubular portion affording a central longitudinal steam passage and having a laterally extending steam nipple, a surrounding perforated jacket integral with said tu- In testimony whereof I afiix-my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

CHARLES FBEDRIG GREGORY.

Witnesses PHILIP MARSH, I-IoLLIs MARSH.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, I). 0. 

